Is Shrimp Good for High Blood Pressure? (Expert Answer)

Short Answer: Shrimp is good for high blood pressure. Because it has omega-3 fatty acids and astaxanthin, which can lower blood pressure and protect the arteries.

High blood pressure is a condition that affects your arteries, which are the vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body.

In high blood pressure, your body has a higher force of blood pushing against the artery walls.

This can damage the arteries and make them narrower and less elastic.

This can lead to various health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and vision loss.

One of the key factors in managing high blood pressure is diet.

What you consume can affect your blood pressure levels, which can impact your high blood pressure symptoms and overall health.

To effectively manage high blood pressure, you should consume potassium, calcium, and magnesium rich foods like bananas, yogurt, and leafy greens.

And avoid sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar rich foods like processed meats, cheese, and baked goods.

Now, shrimp is a type of seafood that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates.

People usually eat shrimp boiled, grilled, or fried with various sauces and seasonings.

Shrimp is good for high blood pressure because it contains omega-3 fatty acids and astaxanthin, which are beneficial for heart health.

Omega-3 fatty acids can lower inflammation and blood pressure levels.

Astaxanthin is an antioxidant that can protect the arteries from oxidative stress and damage.

However, shrimp also contains cholesterol, which can raise blood cholesterol levels if consumed in excess.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that can build up in the arteries and increase the risk of heart disease.

100 grams of shrimp can give you 20.4 grams of protein (41% of your daily needs), 540 mg of omega-3 fatty acids (25% of your daily needs), and 38 mcg of astaxanthin (no established daily value).

Omega-3 fatty acids can relax and dilate the blood vessels, which can lower blood pressure.

Astaxanthin can scavenge free radicals and prevent lipid peroxidation, which can damage the artery walls.

Furthermore, shrimp is a lean meat and lean meats are good for high blood pressure.

Because they are low in saturated fat, which can increase blood cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

You can eat up to six 1-ounce servings of shrimp per day safely.

More than that can cause high cholesterol levels and allergic reactions in some people.

Also, you shouldn’t eat shrimp if you have shellfish allergy to prevent anaphylaxis.

Because shrimp can trigger a severe allergic reaction that can affect your breathing and blood pressure.

You can buy fresh shrimp in your local market or can order it from online.

Always choose shrimp that are firm, translucent, and odorless.

Because they are the freshest and safest to eat.

You can store them in the refrigerator for up to two days or in the freezer for up to three months.

Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing high blood pressure effectively.

I always recommend my high blood pressure patients to follow a DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.

Get a Customized Diet Plan

About the Author

Abdur Rahman Choudhury

Abdur Rahman Choudhury is a nutritionist in West Bengal, India, with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biochemistry.

He has done his diploma in nutrition from Fabulous Body Inc (US), and completed various certification courses from several universities. He also has considerable research experience in PCOS.

Abdur currently lives in India and keeps fit by weight training and eating mainly home-cooked meals.

Leave a Comment